20 Chapter 20

-[Roku]-

After watching his current reincarnation getting beaten by the fire nation teen, he couldn't help but shake his head.

He had warned Aang not to be hasty but the boy's one-track mind caused him to easily disregard his warnings.

What people and even most avatars didn't know was that the previous avatars were always awake, always watching. Though they couldn't interact with the physical world unless through the avatar, that didn't mean they weren't aware of what was going on.

Though he could sense a tinge of darkness from Aroh, the boy wasn't evil, simply decisive. A trait he wished he had when he faced Sozin on that day.

Things wouldn't have turned out this way if he had killed Sozin that day but his attachment to their friendship caused him to stay his hand.

He didn't blame Aang for the way that the monks raised him but he feared that he was too soft to do what needed to be done.

He hadn't warned Aang to not be hasty just because Aroh was from the fire nation. His reason was beyond that but it wasn't something he could share…not yet.

-[Aroh]-

The four of them rode on Appa, heading towards the northern water tribe. With Aang still unconscious, Sokka sat atop the bison's head, guiding it in the proper direction.

In the saddle lay Aang's still unconscious form. Not far beside him were Aroh and Katara who were lying in a spooning position.

Due to Sokka's presence and the fact that Aang could wake up at any time, Katara had to control herself…mostly.

Though the girl managed to hold herself from pouncing on him, Aroh's hands wandered under and through the clothing. They doubted Sokka would have wanted to see that scene so they were discreet.

Laying a soft kiss on her forehead, he peeled himself away from Katara, walking to stand atop Appa's head.

Sokka noticed his arrival but stayed quiet as he held the reins. Neither of them spoke, each deep in their thoughts until the water tribe boy finally broke the silence.

"Why?" He asked, prompting a look of confusion from Aroh. "Why are you doing this? The fire nation wants the avatar and you already beat him. You could've taken him and ran and we wouldn't be able to stop you so why didn't you?"

Aroh didn't speak for a moment, taking a deliberate breath before answering. "What would that solve?"

"How should I know? You guys are the ones trying to kill him." Sokka retorted.

"Is it so hard to believe that I'm not with the fire nation?" Aroh asked, gaining a scoff from the water tribesman.

"Yeah right, Mr demon blade." He said in a sarcastic tone.

That only confirmed Aroh's suspicion that his face was now publicly known. "Believe what you want. It doesn't matter anyway."

This time, it was Sokka's turn to look confused but Aroh wasn't done. "Believe it or not, I don't care about the avatar. I just want this war to be over with."

Previously, he believed that he would only need to kill the fire lord and the top brass of the fire nation but everything had changed.

"Katara told me you wanted to join the war with your father." Aroh said, changing the topic a bit.

"Did she? What about it?" Sokka retorted with some hostility.

"You're a fool." Aroh answered simply.

Sokka's face scrunched up in anger. "What did you say?!"

Aroh merely repeated his words. "I said that you're a fool. You're still entranced by the romanticized stories of war that soldiers tell when they return. The truth is much more gory than that."

"And you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Sokka's anger didn't dim in the slightest.

"As a matter of fact, I would." Aroh's eyes narrowed as he turned to face Sokka. "Fighting in a war is more than just being brave. War isn't a game that children should play without knowing what they're getting into. That's probably why you were left behind."

With that, the conversation was over as Aroh's words put Sokka in a state of silent anger. The two stayed in silence, Sokka seething in silence and Aroh simply focusing on the sky.

'This is the closest feeling to being on a plane in this world.' Aroh noted.

Previously, he didn't know what riding a bison would feel like but now he couldn't help but relate the feeling of being in the air with his past life. 'Of course this is a bit more dangerous than that.'

A groan was heard from behind them, causing them to turn to the source. Aang had woken up, rubbing the back of his neck that was no doubt sore.

"What happened? What hit me?" The bald monk muttered as he sat up.

As he looked around, his eyes found Katara sleeping in the saddle. "Katara!" He exclaimed in surprise and relief.

"Sokka, we did it! We…" The boy's words trailed off as he turned to face Sokka only to see Aroh standing beside him, an impassive look on his face.

"You!" He immediately scurried for his staff, leveling it at him as soon as he got ahold of it.

Aroh raised a brow at this. 'Do you ever learn?' He wondered internally as he turned back to observing the sky, ignoring Aang totally.

"Aang stop!" Sokka screamed just when the monk was about to attack.

"Huh?" Aang gained a confused look as he saw Sokka's expression, as if warning him not to attempt anything.

"What's going on?" Katara who had been woken by the noise asked as she sat up in the saddle. Her eyes immediately scanned her surroundings, immediately latching on to Aroh who watched her from the corner of his eyes, causing her to let out a breath of relief.

"We finally saved you." Just as he said that, the rest of his memories followed, causing him to pause, slowly lowering his staff.

Though the boy lowered the staff, Aroh could still feel the negative energy brewing and growing inside of him as well as him tightening his grip. Whether it was still Raava's influence or not, he didn't know but he was tired of repeating the same dance over and over again.

Aroh walked back into the saddle, walking past Aang who tensed, before lowering himself to sit in his former position beside Katara. The waterbender pressed into his side, leaning onto him.

The sight only caused the negative emotions Aroh was feeling from Aang to spike. The scowl in Sokka's face told him that the boy wasn't happy about his sister's behavior either.

While he was 'interrogating' Jeong Jeong, Katara had already explained that he had saved her and that they'd both been on the run from the fire nation ever since.

Neither Aang nor Sokka wanted to believe that Aroh wasn't up to something.

'She has found aid from someone unlikely. When you find her, do not be hasty in judgement.' Only now did Roku's words ring in Aang's head, causing him to feel even more down.

"I-" Before the monk could properly speak, Sokka interrupted him.

"Uh Aang, you might want to see this." The water tribesman called out, drawing their attention to the sight before them.

In the distance was a mountain with a large temple sitting at the top of it. The most glaring things about it were the pillars of smoke rising from it as well as the fire nation banner hanging from the top of the temple.

"The northern air temple…" Aang muttered in despair.